Restless vs. Settled

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Awakening the change within There is one thing I have noticed about people. They fall into two groups. Rooted and restless. The simplest way to describe the difference is this. If you’re a passenger on a long car ride can you sit facing front, legs on the floor the entire time? Or do you contort yourself multiple ways – legs crossed… first left, then right, then left. Legs folded under you first left, then right. Legs in yogi pose under you. Feet on dash. Feet on seat. Sound familiar?

Rooted people can have spurts of restlessness but feel more comfortable with stability. Restless people can enjoy stability but will eventually need an outlet for their restlessness. Restlessness can come in many forms. A craving to learn more. A desire to see more. A burning need to make change happen. So what makes someone rooted or restless? The answer is:

Change That is the big differentiator between rooted and restless people. Rooted people have either reached a place where they are incredibly happy with their life that they have no desire or need to change anything or they resist change as they much prefer the status quo. Restless people are searching for fulfillment or something different. They use change as a channel to explore new avenues as they search for what they are seeking. Change becomes a huge part of their lives. It is what drives them. If they are not constantly changing, they don’t feel like they are living.

If you’re still not sure which you are here are a few questions to help you figure it out:

1. How many jobs have you had in the past 5 years? 1 – 0 points. More than 1 – 1 point.

2. How many times have you been married or in a serious relationship? Never or 1 – 0 points. More than 1 – 1 point.

3. If you’ve never been married, how many relationships have you had in the past 5 years? 1 – 0 points. More than 1 – 1 point.

4. How many countries have you lived in in your life? 1 – 0. More than 1 – 1 point.

5. How many countries have you travelled to in the past 2 years? 1 – 0. More than 1 – 1 point.

6. How many times have you changed careers? Never – 0. More than 1 – 1 point.

7. How many times do you feel your personality has evolved in the past 10 years? It hasn’t – 0. I have been through multiple growth cycles – 1 point

8. How many business ideas have you tried in the past 10 years? None, starting a business is scary – 0. Oh boy, let me count – 1 point

9. How many self-improvement books have you read in the last few years? None, that is too woo-woo for me – 0. Would you like to see my library? – 1 point

10. How many new hobbies or interests have you started in the past 5 years? Just never got around to it – 0. I am so multi-passionate, I have many hobbies running at once – 1 point.

11. Do you have a passport? Yes – 0 No – 1 point

12. How many times in a month do you experiment with new food (either cooked yourself or a new dish or restaurant) Never, I like the same things – 0. More than once – 1 point

13. How many times do you need to do exercise in a week? 1-3 times – 0. 3 or more – 1 point

14. How many causes do you feel passionate about? Nothing has sparked my interest – 0. Multiple – 1 point

15. Do you view challenges in life as opportunities for growth. No – 0. Yes – 1 point

How did you score? If you got 10-15, you are a restless soul. 5-10, you are balanced between being restless and rooted. Less than 5, you have deep roots!

Is that how you see yourself? Or do you feel like you really are restless but circumstance has gotten in the way of channeling that? Do you feel like you are in a rut? If not and you are fabulously in love with where your life is, then congratulations you probably have no need to change as you are contented with your life. If you feel like you are searching but are not sure how to find what you are seeking, then read on.

If you want to change your life then you have to ignite your restless nature. Being rooted provides a security blanket. For many people that is more valuable than change and yet they beat themselves up for not being able to make necessary changes. The choice is yours. Enjoy the security or enable the change. The security blanket is safe but creating change involves facing fears. Taking risks. When you view your fears as adventures waiting to be conquered then you will begin to move in the right direction. One of the best ways to kick-start your restlessness is through travel. Check out my wellness adventure which will be the perfect place to start your transformation.